Piddington Residents Vote for Independence from the UK
Residents of the English village with a population of about 350 overwhelmingly voted for "exit" from the United Kingdom during a symbolic referendum. This was held in protest against government plans to house asylum seekers at a nearby former military site.
In the village of Piddington, located near Oxford, 285 out of 312 counted votes supported the idea of "self-determination" for the village. Although the referendum has no legal force, residents marked its outcome by erecting a sign declaring the area as the "Principality of Piddington".
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The vote was organized by the parish council. The idea for the plebiscite was partly inspired by the 1949 British comedy "Passport to Pimlico". The film's plot revolves around residents of a London district discovering that their neighborhood is not formally part of the UK and declaring their independence.
Local council leader Tim McNally stated that the purpose of the vote was to demonstrate residents' concerns about government plans. It is expected that the new center, planned for the former military base, will house over 1200 single men seeking refugee status for at least the next ten years.
The government claims that using former military sites is part of a strategy to reduce reliance on housing asylum seekers in hotels.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that he would consider the community's concerns, but the government still intends to proceed with the project to establish the center on this site.
